Fake Testicles, Facemasks, the New Level of Pet Pampering

News

05.23.12

NEW YORK - People and their pets often end up resembling each other, but image-obsessed Americans are taking that age-old relationship a step further, treating their four-legged friends to everything from spa facials to testicle implants.

In a nation of surgically enhanced human breasts, teeth and skin, perhaps it was just a matter of time before the beauty stakes were raised for pooches and cats.

One end of the spectrum features dogs like Hops, a Maltese terrier who recently was given a blueberry facial, followed by a blow dry, and tooth brushing with chicken-flavored paste, at Manhattan's Downtown Doghouse spa.

Groomer Ani Corless described this as the new normal for lapdogs.

"These are man-made breeds and they require maintenance," she said.

Mid-facial, Hops ejected a tiny puddle of vomit, but otherwise did seem to enjoy the attention.

She doesn't believe a neutered dog cares about losing its testicles. However, replacing that missing weight is beneficial for healing, "especially for big dogs, because when you remove those large testicles you still have a big scrotum."

However, Tazi Phillips, at the California-based magazine and charity GlobalAnimal.org, says "ridiculous" Neuticles are part of a trend of anthropomorphism gone wild.

She cited implants to make floppy ears stand straight, declawing to prevent scratching, and tooth removal to stop destructive chewing.

Some owners of dogs like Dobermans practice ear and tail cropping to make their animals conform to the ideal shape of their breed. Then there are human vanity procedures, like tattoos, piercings, liposuction and rhinoplasty.

"A lot of this has happened as pets have become less property and more family members," Phillips said.

Advocates of cosmetic tinkering say the Hollywood treatment is just a way to show pets love.

"Is it abuse?" the NAPCG asks. "We at the NAPCG believe that animals are not embarrassed by their appearance... If we tell our pets that they are beautiful and treat them as such, they will respond positively to this type of positive feedback."

According to the American Pet Products Association, nearly $53 billion will be spent on pets in 2012. The biggest portion goes on food, but the "pet services" category, which includes grooming, is estimated to be worth $4.11 billion and rising.

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